Football blocking machine



Dec. 7, 1954 J. B. NOFTSINGER 2,696,383

FOOTBALL BLOCKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1952 m N N INVENTOR fihnliM/z si nje r BY j ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,696,383 FOOTBALL BLOCKINGMACHINE John B. Noftsinger, Roanoke, Va. Application July 25, 1952,Serial No. 300,809 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to amachine of extremely simple construction adapted for use in developingskill and strength in football blocking and which is adapted for usesimultaneously by two players exerting force against the machine inopposition to one another.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a machine ofextremely simple construction capable of being efficiently used fordeveloping a football players ability to block and which may be utilizedwith much less danger of injury to the players than ordinarily existswhere the players are in bodily contact in practicing blocking.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a blocking machinewhich may be readily adjusted to the advantage or disadvantage of eitherplayer so that the machine may be equalized to be employed by playerspossessing different strengths or drive in blocking.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a blocking machinewhich will be extremely durable for accomplishing its intended resultyet which may be very economically manufactured and sold.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of theblocking machine;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the portion thereof disposedabove the ground level;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along aplane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of themachine looking from left to right of Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the football blockingmachine in its entirety is designated generally 5, and includes anelongated sleeve 6 forming a bearing which is disposed in an uprightposition and anchored preferably in a block of cement 7 which isdisposed in the ground as indicated at 8, the upper surface of which isdisposed substantially at the ground level as indicated at 9. The lowerend of the sleeve 6 opens into a chamber or cavity 10 for-med in theblock 7 and the upper portion of the sleeve 6 extends upwardly anydesired distance above the ground level 9. The upper end of the sleeve 6has corresponding concavely arced semicircular portions 11 formingoppositely disposed ridges 12.

A roundabout, designated generally 13, includes a T-shaped member,designated generally 14, having a horizontal tubular portion 15 and astem 16 which depends vertically from the portion 15, intermediate ofthe ends thereof and which is likewise preferably tubu- The stem 16extends downwardly through the sleeve or bearing 6 into the cavity 10.As illustrated in Figure 1, a collar 17 is fixed to the lower end of thestem 16 and is disposed in the cavity 10 below and spaced from thesleeve 6. When the stem or shaft 16 is provided with the collar 17, saidstem or shaft is disposed in the sleeve 6 and the collar 17 is fixedthereto and the parts are positioned as illustrated in Figure 1 beforethe upper portion of the block 7 is cast to mold the sleeve 6 therein.However, if desired, the collar 17 may be omitted and the sleeve 6 maythen be molded in the block 7 before the stem or shaft 16 is appliedthereto, and said sleeve 6 may be made of suflicient length so that theice cavity 10 may be omitted and the lower end of the stem or shaft 16may terminate above the lower end of the sleeve '6. The upper portion ofthe stem or shaft 16 is provided with diametrically aligned pairs oflongitudinally spaced openings 16a adapted to selectively receive abearing pin 18 the ends of which extend outwardly therefrom and bearupon the concave upper of the sleeve 6, to support the horizontalroundabout element 15 at any desired level 9.

The roundabout 13 includes extensible end sections 19 which likewisepreferably comprise elongated tubes which telescopic-ally fit into andextend outwardly from the ends of said horizontal member 15. Thehorizontal member 15, adjacent each end thereof, is provided withaligned openings 20 and each of the extensible members 19 is providedwith a plurality of pairs of aligned openings 21, the openings of thedifferent pairs of which are longitudinally spaced and the openings ofany pair of which are adapted to be selectively aligned with theopenings 20 to receive a headed pin 22 for adjustably connecting theextensible member 19 non-slidably and nonrotatably to an end of themember 15. Each pin 22 is preferably tethered by a flexible member 23 tothe member 15, said 24 which are fixed to the member 15.

A plate 25 is secured intermediate of its upper and lower ends as bywelding, as indicated at 26, to the outer end of each extensible member19. The plates are offset relatively to the same side of the axis of themember 15. Said plates 25 each have a concave forward side facing awayfrom the member 19 and a convex rear side to which the member 19 issecured. The plates 25 are bowed longitudinally or vertically fromend-toend thereof to form the concave and convex sides thereof, asillustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

A cushion 27 is det-achably mounted on the concave front side of eachplate 25, said cushions 27 preferably being hollow and inflatable bymeans of valves 28. Each cushion 27 is provided with buckle and strapfastenings 29 which are attached to the side edges thereof and which aredetachably fastened around the convex back side of the plate 25 fordetachably mounting the cushion 27 on the concave front side thereof andso as to completely cover said front side. Each cushion 27 may also beprovided with a downwardly opening pocket 30 on its rear side andadjacent its upper end to receive the upper end of the plate 25 tosupport the cushion 27 and pi'event it from sliding downwardly withrespect to the p ate.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that two football playerswill simultaneously use the machine 5, each football player placing ashoulder against one of the pads 27 different from the pad engaged bythe shoulder of the other player, so that a player pushing against oneend of the roundabout 13 will tend to turn said roundabout in onedirection and the player pushing against the opposite end thereof willurge the roundabout to turn in the opposite direction so that thepushing force exerted by the two players will counterbalance oneanother. It will be readily apparent that either player by exerting apreponderance of the force may cause rotation of the roundabout.However, in so doing the pin 18 must ride up end portions of the concaveedges 11 over the ridges 12, thus requiring lifting of the weight of theroundabout 13, thus increasing the amount of the preponderance of theforce required as the roundabout approaches a position at right anglesto its position of Figures 1 and 2. The collar 17, if employed, isspaced from the lower end of the sleeve 6 to allow this upwarddisplacement of the roundabout and so that the pin ends may pass overthe ridges 12. If the resistance thus afforded is insufficient tosubstantially equalize the force being exerted against the machine 5, sothat the player exerting the less force is still unable to prevent theroundabout from being turned toward him, one of the extensible members19 may be positioned by means of the pin 22, which engages said member19 in a more extended position than the other member 19 so that theweaker player "is given the advantage of greater leverage by thusincreasing the distance between the pad 27 enflexible members 23 beingsecured to eyes gaged by the weaker player and the shaft 16 so that theroundabout will remain substantially stationary while the two playersare exerting their blocking forces against the pads 27.

It will be readily obvious that the pin 18 may selectively engage any ofthe aligned pairs of openings 16a for positioning the pads 27 at anydesired elevation above the ground level 9.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A football blocking practice machine comprising a sleeve anchored inan upright position, a roundabout including a shaft journalled in saidsleeve and extending upwardly therefrom, a tubular cross member securedintermediate of its ends to the upper end of said shaft and disposedwith its axis at substantially a right angle to the axis of said shaft,plates fixed to the ends of said cross member, said plates beinghorizontally offset relatively to the axis of the cross member in thesame direction, and pads secured to complementary outer sides of saidplates, said sleeve having a scalloped upper end defining oppositelydisposed concavely arced substantially semi-circular portions andoppositely disposed ridges interposed therebetween, and a pin extendingthrough said shaft having end portions projecting therefrom and engagingon the upper end of the sleeve for supporting the roundabout r-otatablyon the sleeve.

2. A football blocking practice machine as in claim 1, a molded blockadapted to be embedded in the ground and in which the lower portion ofthe sleeve is anchored for supporting the sleeve in an upright positionwith the upper portion there-of above the ground level, said blockhaving a cavity beneath the lower end of the sleeve, the lower end ofsaid shaftextending downwardly from the sleeve into the cavity, and acollar fixed to said shaft end beneath and spaced from the sleeve.

3. A football blocking practice machine as in claim 2, said cross memberincluding an intermediate section and end sections telescopicallyengaging in and projecting outwardly from the ends of the intermediatesection, and means adjustably securing said end sections individually tothe intermediate section in different eX tended positions relative toone another, said plates being secured to and carried by said endsections of the cross member.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,378,733 Simons May 17, 1921 1,552,841 Hector Sept. 8, 19251,607,617 Haeussler Nov. 23, 1926 1,962,088 Crowther June 5, 19342,234,364 Carberry Mar. 11, 1941 2,560,703 Sebel July 17, 1951 2,574,046Logan Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 265,035 GreatBritain Feb. 3, 1927 640,831 Great Britain July 26, 1950

